Defending state champ St. Thomas carries momentum over into spring football

FORT LAUDERDALE – St. Thomas Aquinas has had 111 players – 111! – come out for varsity football this spring. It’s the most ever for the Raiders, Coach Rocco Casullo noted before Thursday’s intrasquad game.

And this is a program with seven state championships, including the Class 7A title in 2012, which doesn’t make roster cuts – in the spring or fall.

“That means we’re doing something right and kids want to be a part of something,” Casullo said of the 111 currently on his roster.

Coming off another title, Casullo said the hunger has still been there this spring for a team that’ll be very young on defense this fall, but is still talented. Three players return on that side of the ball: linemen Nick Bosa and Anthony Moten, and defensive back Al Harris.

“We’ve got eight position battles now,” Casullo said, adding, “we’re trying to be as vanilla as possible on defense” so players can master the schemes. “We don’t want to scare these guys. But the position battles have been outstanding.”

So far this spring, St. Thomas’ offense, which includes three returning linemen, has been ahead of the defense, Casullo said. Running backs Madre London and Deltron Sands are an impressive combo, and receivers Corey Holmes, Sean Bender and Devante Peete have all been “outstanding” this spring.

Peete, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound rising junior, is a high-profile transfer from Ely who said he has already benefitted from working with receivers coach Cris Carter.

“I just want learn how to be a better receiver and a better person,” he said. “St. Thomas Aquinas is a great school and can teach me that.”

Peete, who already has offers from big-time schools, including Florida, said he’d like to get offers from Florida State, Miami and Alabama as well.